Spark-plug cleaner



May 15, 1923. Y

1,455,150 A. M. SEAVER SPARK PLUG CLEANER Filed Jan, 9, 1922 i /l 1 /g /Z 4 L i 6 fly. 3.,

/l'A//f n ggz/.s/'emzr Patented Nlay i5, i923.

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SPARK-PLUG CLEANER.

Application filed January 9,1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, AUGUST lll/l. Snavnn, a citizen of the United States oif America. residing at Grand Rapids, in the county oi Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and use'tul 'improvements in Spark-Plug Cleaners; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exa-ct description oil" the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a spark plug cleaner. It is well known that in the operation of internal combustion engines, the spark plugs which are used 'for igniting the explosive charges in the cylinders of the engine, many times become encrusted with what is known as carbon. The carbon deposit on the plugs serves to render the same more or less ineffective for the production of the ignition sparks made by the jumping of the electric current across a gap in an electric circuit of which each plug is a part by reason of a. more or less complet-ion of the circuit through the carbon. Accordingly, it is necessary that the plugs be kept clean and it is very common to remove the spark plugs from the engine and clean the carbon therefrom.

My invention is directed to the production of a very simple yet effective cleaner tor spark plugs and one with which spark plugs may be very quickly freed from the carbon deposits thereon, particularly on the inner sides of the lower end portion of a plug from which it is usually hard to remove the carbon without taking` the plug apart, a process to be avoided ii possible. llt is a primary object and purpose of my invention to construct a spark plug cleaner by means of which the above described ends are effectively attained. A further object of t-he invention is to make a device of this character very cheaply so that the saine may be marketed at low cost. Various other objects and purposes than those stated will appear as understanding of the inven tion is had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. l is a front elevation oi? the spark plug cleaner' of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the Serial NO. 528,074.

cleaner in conjunction with a spark plug.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiiiercnt ligures of Jfhe drawing. Y

ln the construction oit the spark plug cleaner, a length of wire is coiled at its middle into a cfrcular coil, indicated at l, one end of the coil being extended downwardly, as shown at 2 in Figs. l and 2. for short distance and then flattened into a relatively long and thin wider blade 3, substantially rectangular in cross section. The other end of the coil is likewise extended downwardly for short distance, as shown at Ll4x and is then similarly flattened into a second relatively long and thin blade 5. The blades 3 and 5 are nearly if not quite parallel, preferably, however, diverging somewhat as they extend downwardly.

This spark plug cleaner is very useful in connection with the removal o1 carbon from the inner surfaces ot the shells of spark plugs, rlhe method of using is shown in Fig. 3, the spark plug outer shell 6 with its exteriorly threaded lower end 7 and centrally locatedinsulating porcelain 8 being of common construction with an annular space between the porcelain and the part 7 in which carbon collects, The blades 3 and 5 are easily inserted into this annular space being sprung together and on account of the tendency for the same to spring outwardly and back to original position the outer sides ot the blades bear firmly against the inner sides oit the shell end portion 7. @n turning the device as a whole back and iorth about the longitudinal axis of the spark plug, the carbon deposit on the inner sides ot' the end portion 7 oi the shell is very quickly and completely scraped oif and the plugleft in clean condition. The blades 8 and 5 having right angular corners, when moved back and forth as described bite into and remove the carbon very thoroughly in a very short time. The material from which the cleaner is made maybe spring wire, though there is no necessity that it shall be ot' such particular materialrl cleaners made from relatively soit wire proving very satisfactory though not durable as those of better materia-l.

This construction of spark plug cleaner is simple in construction. can be readily manufactured at low cost and is especialy eleetive'in use. It is readily placed on a key ring or chain, the saine passing through the `coil atl so ask to be always available when needed.

I claim:

A lspark plug cleaner formed from a single length of material bent at its middle portion. toA provide two spaced apart nearly parallel lege, each of said legs at its free end portion being of rectangular cross Sec- 10 tion to provide a relatively thin blade, substantially as and for tlie urposes described. ln testimony whereofa'lix my signature.

AUGUST M. SEAVER. 

